Smart case for electronic wearable device

ABSTRACT

Auxiliary units, in some instances implemented as a case for a wearable electronic device such as a wearable camera are described. The auxiliary units may include one or more electronic components typically included in the camera. By offloading an electronic component and the corresponding function (e.g., extended power capacity, memory capacity, wireless or other communication capabilities, etc.) to a removable auxiliary unit, the size of the wearable device can be advantageously further reduced.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/807,308, filed Nov. 8, 2017, and entitled “SMART CASE FOR ELECTRONICWEARABLE DEVICE,” which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of theearlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/418,872entitled “SMART ADAPTORS FOR MINIMIZING WEARABLE CAMERAS,” filed Nov. 8,2016; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/447,404 entitled “SMART CASE,FOR MINIATURE WEARABLE CAMERA,” filed Jan. 17, 2017; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/461,579 entitled “ENHANCED SMART CASE,” filed Feb.21, 2017; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/461,977 entitled “ENHANCEDSMART CASE ENABLING AUGMENTED REALITY,” filed Feb. 22, 2017; U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/464,075 entitled “SMART CASE WITHINTEGRATED DISPLAY FOR USE WITH A MINIATURE WEARABLE CAMERA,” filed Feb.27, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/515,860 entitled“ATTACHABLE ACCESSORY FOR WEARABLE CAMERA,” filed Jun. 6, 2017. Theforegoing applications, and any other application(s) for which a foreignor domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheetas filed with the present application, are hereby incorporated byreference under 37 CFR 1.57.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to auxiliary units for electronicwearable devices such as wearable cameras, and in some specific examplesto auxiliary units implemented in the form of a case or smart case forthe electronic wearable device (e.g., camera).

BACKGROUND

When a consumer picks out eyewear, whether prescription ornon-prescription, whether sunglasses of clear glasses the consumeralmost always first looks at how the eyewear looks on their face.Wearable cameras have been attempted in the past and have not beencommercially viable due to the size and form factor of the cameras. Whenthe camera is integrated into eyewear such that electronics are embeddedinto the eyewear frame four issues occur; 1) the eyewear frame getsthicker, 2) the cost of goods of the eyewear frame increase, 3) theselling price to the consumer of the eyewear frame increases and 4) theselection of different style eyewear frames decreases for the consumerto select from. Cameras attachable to eyewear are typically too largeand may distract from the fashion look of the eyewear frame. Thus theremay be a need for a small camera that is attachable and detachable toeyewear without harming the fashion look of the eyewear frame.

Cameras are continuing to shrink in size and form factor. Wearablecameras, such as (by way of example only) those which attach to eyewear,continue to push boundaries of size, weight and form factor reduction,while at the same time maintaining acceptable functionality. There is apressing need for an innovative solution that allows for further sizeand form factor reductions in wearable cameras while maintainingacceptable functionality. It is also desirable to have a closed orsealed camera with no physical connectors between the camera and theoutside world. Such a camera could be made to be water proof and wouldnever need to be plugged into a device for charging or data transfer.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments herein, a case for a wearableelectronic device such as a wearable camera having onboard memory andpower source may include a case body comprising a camera interfaceconfigured to communicatively connect the case to the wearable camera,an external communication interface configured to communicatively couplethe case to a computing device, a case memory configured to store datareceived from the camera, and a case battery comprising a rechargeablepower source configured to provide power to the camera, wherein the casebody may have a configuration in which the case body at least partiallyencloses the camera. In certain embodiments the case can recharge thecamera. In some embodiments the case is configured to recharge thecamera and transfer data to a computing device. In other embodiments,the case is configured to recharge the camera, store data, and transferdata to a computing device. In still other embodiments, the case isconfigured to recharge the camera, store data, enhance the data, andtransfer data to a computing device. A computing device can be one of alaptop computer, desktop computer, smart phone, tablet, augmentedreality unit, virtual reality unit, mixed reality unit, or any othercomputing device. The case can be mobile in that it can function, forexample recharge a camera, while the case is not connected to anexternal power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects and attendant advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of variousembodiments, including the best mode presently contemplated ofpracticing the invention, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an auxiliary unit in accordance withsome examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an auxiliary unit in accordance withfurther examples of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3D show examples of auxiliary units and docked cameras inaccordance with some examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a wearable camera attached to a wearablearticle, in this case eyewear, in accordance with some examples of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5C show several isometric views of an example wearable camerain accordance with some examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of internal components of a wearable camerain accordance with some examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an auxiliary unit in accordance withfurther examples of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show further examples of auxiliary units and dockedcameras in accordance with examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of an auxiliary unit implemented as asmart case in accordance with examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of the auxiliary unit of FIG. 9 in anopen configuration:

FIGS. 11A and 11B show views of the auxiliary unit of FIG. 10 with awearable camera docked therein;

FIG. 12 shows a simplified exploded view of the auxiliary unit of FIG.10 showing some of the internal components of the auxiliary unit;

FIG. 13 shows an isometric view of an auxiliary unit implemented as asmart case according to some examples of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14A and 14B show isometric views of an auxiliary unit implementedas a smart case according to further examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 shows an isometric view of an auxiliary unit implemented as asmart case according to yet further examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of electronics architecture of anauxiliary unit in accordance with some examples herein;

FIG. 17 shows another block diagram of electronics architecture of anauxiliary unit in accordance with some examples herein;

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of controller architecture of an auxiliaryunit in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 19A and 19B shows operational environments for cameras andauxiliary units according to some examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 shows an example system including a wearable electronic deviceand an auxiliary unit which are attachable to a common platform as asingle unit in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 21A-21D show block diagrams of auxiliary units connectable as anextension to a wearable electronic device according to further examplesof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This present application describes camera systems and auxiliary unitswhich enable further reduction of size of electronic wearable devices,such as a wearable camera. In some embodiments, the wearable camera maybe attachable to one or any number of different types of wearablearticles, for example eyewear, a purse, a ring, a necklace, a piece ofclothing, or any type of protective gear worn by a person (e.g., helmet,goggles, a ski mask, a scuba mask, etc.). In certain other embodimentsthe camera can be worn, then removed and reattached to another surfacesuch as, by way of example only, a surface of an automobile dash board,motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, surfboard. The present applicationdescribes examples of auxiliary units (e.g., an adaptor, smart cable, acarrying case, a smart case, or other), which may be configured tocouple to an electronic wearable devices, e.g. a wearable camera, suchthat one or more components of the case can provide functionality to thewearable device, e.g., functionality which may otherwise need to belocated in the wearable camera, and in this manner further reduction insize of the camera may be achieved. For example, such a component may bean electronic component such as communication circuitry, an interface(e.g., for interfacing with another electronic device or a user), apower source, memory, or power and/or memory management circuitry. Inaccordance with examples herein, an auxiliary unit may be configured tocouple to a wearable electronic device such as a camera and provideauxiliary functionality to the camera. In some embodiments, similarfunctionality and/or components may reside in both the wearable deviceand the auxiliary unit, wherein the presence of the similarfunctionality and/or components allows for the functionality and/orcomponents in the wearable device to be more minimized in terms of sizeand power consumption. In some examples, the auxiliary unit may beimplemented as a case for the camera in that it may include at least onconfiguration in which the auxiliary unit or case encloses (at leastpartially or in some cases fully) the camera. In some such examples, thecamera may be mechanically joined to the case such as by plugging thecamera into a connector of the case, and in such instances alsosimultaneously providing a communication link between the cameras. Insome examples the mechanical connection between the camera and case maynot provide a communication link and may serve purely to secure thecamera to the case.

The auxiliary unit may include internal electronic components such ascommunication circuitry, e.g., wired communication circuitry and one ormore accompanying connector or plug (e.g., a USB or micro-USB connector,a LIGHTNING connector, etc.), wireless communication circuitry (e.g., aWi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, etc.), authentication circuit, which canbe provided on EPROM or other type of non-volatile memory, a datastorage component (e.g., flash or other type of non-volatile memory),battery charging and power management circuitry. In some embodiments,the auxiliary unit may include a power source (e.g., a rechargeablebattery) for recharging the onboard power source of the electronicwearable device, (e.g., camera) when the electronic wearable device iscoupled thereto. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may not be asmart device (e.g., may not include algorithms that have adaptivefeatures or it may not have electronic components for data storageand/or external communication but may instead include only a powersource and associated circuitry to enable charging of the electronicwearable device on the go. In some such examples, the auxiliary unit maybe implemented in the form of a case for storage of the electronicwearable device when not in use. In such examples, the auxiliary unit orcase may have a configuration in which the auxiliary unit or case atleast partially encloses the camera, which in the context of thisapplication may be understood to imply that the auxiliary unit or caseat least partially surrounds the camera (e.g., at least partiallysurround two or more sides of the camera). In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit or case may fully enclose the camera (i.e. surroundingall sides of the camera).

In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may be configured to wirelesslycharge the camera and may thus include wireless power transmissioncomponents (e.g., a wireless power transmitting coil such as to enableinductive charging of the camera). In some embodiments, the auxiliaryunit may be configured to be wirelessly recharged and may thus includewireless power reception components (e.g., a wireless power receiverincluding a wireless power receiving coil). In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit may be configured to be both wirelessly recharged and towirelessly charge the camera. In some such examples, the auxiliary unitmay use the same coil for reception and transmission of power. In othersuch examples, the auxiliary unit may have separate transmitting andreceiving coils.

In yet further examples, the auxiliary unit may be configured to becommunicatively coupled to the camera using a wired connection. In somesuch examples, the auxiliary unit may have a wired connection forcoupling to the camera for power transfer to the camera and/or for datatransfer to/from the camera. In some examples, the auxiliary unit mayadditionally or alternatively use a wired connection for communicationwith an external device, for example an external computing device, suchas a portable computer, tablet, smart phone or other portable computingdevice, a cloud server, or an external power source. In someembodiments, the auxiliary unit may use the same communication interfacefor connecting to the electronic wearable device (e.g., wearable camera)and the external device (e.g., external portable computing device orexternal power source). For example, the auxiliary unit may include awired interface (e.g., USB, micro USB, LIGHTNING connector) forconnecting the camera thereto (e.g., for charging) and may be furtherconfigured to use the same wired interface for connecting to an externaldevice, such as a smart phone or a grid-connected power source, when thewired interface is not in use by the camera. In some embodiments, thecommon interface may be a wireless interface, e.g., a wireless powertransmission/reception module, a wireless data transmission/receptionmodule, or a combination thereof. In other examples, the auxiliary unitmay have separate interfaces for connecting to the camera and forconnecting to external devices. In yet further examples, the auxiliaryunit may have at least one wired interface (e.g., for connecting to thecamera and transmitting power and/or data to the camera, or forconnecting to an external device) and at least one wireless interface(e.g., a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interface for data transfer between thecamera and auxiliary unit or between the auxiliary unit and externaldevice, and/or a wireless power transmission/reception circuitry).

In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may be portable (e.g., sized tobe hand carried or otherwise conveniently fit in a user's pocket orpurse and not requiring it to be plugged into a wall power source duringuse, e.g., during charging of the camera and/or reception of data fromthe camera). In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may include a userinterface, which may include one or more buttons, indicators (e.g., oneor more LEDs), vibrators, buzzers, GPS, time stamp, clock display,remote display viewfinder for the camera. In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit can act as a remote control for causing the distanceseparated camera to capture a photo or video. This can be accomplished,by way of example only, while the auxiliary unit is stored in one'spocket and the camera is attached to eyewear. In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit may include additional computational power to postprocess image data from the camera, for example, the auxiliary unit maycompress further the image files, or perform a formal conversion of thevideo or still data files, before the image files are transferredoutside the auxiliary unit to an external computer or smartphone.

Further examples of the present disclosure are described now withreference to the figures. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an auxiliaryunit 100. The auxiliary unit 100 may include at least one power source(e.g., auxiliary unit battery 102 or simply auxiliary battery, which maybe rechargeable). The auxiliary unit 100 may include a communicationinterface 104 for coupling the auxiliary unit 100 to an electronicwearable device (EWD), in this case a camera 120. This interface may bereferred to as a EWD interface (in the illustrated example, a camerainterface 112) and it may be either wired or wireless. The camera 120may include onboard memory 122, power 126, and a controller 124. Theonboard memory 122 may be configured to store images (e.g., one or morephotos, video, or any combination thereof) captured by the camera. Thecontroller 124 may be configured to control functions (e.g., controlinitiation of image capture, control or perform signal processing of rawimage data, enhance images captured by the camera, monitor camerastatus, and other functions) of the camera 120.

In some embodiments, the power source of the auxiliary unit (e.g.,battery 102) may have greater power storage capacity than the powerstorage capacity of the camera battery 126. By reducing the size of thecamera battery, further reduction in size of the camera may be achieved.The camera battery may be rechargeable by the auxiliary unit 100 whenthe camera is connected, e.g., physically via a wired connection orwirelessly, in the case wireless power transfer, to the auxiliary unit100.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may additionally and optionallyinclude memory 16, for example for storing data (e.g., images) receivedfrom the camera 2. In such embodiments, the communication interface 14may be further configured to enable data transfer from and/or to thecamera 2. The auxiliary unit may include power management and/or datamanagement circuitry, which may be implemented in a controller 18. Theauxiliary unit may be referred to as a smart device in that it mayinclude a controller 18, which may be implemented using one or moremicroprocessors, memory and memory for providing functionality to thecamera (e.g., expanded memory storage and external communicationcapability) and/or user (e.g., indicating status of the camera and/orauxiliary unit) beyond simply being used to recharge the camera. Such acontroller may be a MCU, an FPGA or an ASIC. In some embodiments,certain control operations, sensing operations, actuating operations,and storing operations of the auxiliary unit may require ramping ofoperating voltage which may be triggered only when its function iscalled for, in order to further minimize energy consumption.

In some embodiment, the camera 2 may not include any communicationcomponents for coupling to external computing device. Thesecommunication components may be offloaded to the auxiliary unit 10. Theauxiliary unit 10 may include components for additionallycommunicatively coupling the auxiliary unit 10 to an external device. Insome embodiments, the auxiliary unit 10 may include an externalcommunication interface 22, which may be wireless or wired, for couplingthe auxiliary unit 10 to an external device (e.g., a smart phone, alaptop computer, a tablet, a desktop computer, a server computer such asin the cloud, etc.). The auxiliary unit may thus provide the necessarycircuitry for the camera to be able to communicate with externaldevices.

In some embodiments, the adaptor may additionally or alternatively beembodied in a housing 28 which functions as a carrying case to store thecamera when not in use (e.g., to protect sensitive components of thecamera, such as the lens). For example, the auxiliary unit may beimplemented as a smart case that can support the functionalities of awearable camera, including, but not limited to providing rechargingcapability and/or downloading data from the device thus freeing up itsmemory, and providing a secure storage space for the device, when not inuse. The smart case can enable deployment of electronic wearable devices(e.g., wearable cameras) with smaller memory chips, power managementmodules and smaller rechargeable batteries, thus reducing the profile ofthe electronic wearable device, and enhancing usability. This isaccomplished by off-loading to the case certain functionality normallyfound in the wearable electronic device. Among other wearable devicesthat benefit from having a smart case to provide operational support maybe eyewear or attachments to eyewear which can display augmented reality(AR). In some embodiments the communication interface may include allthe necessary components to interface with APPLE products and the iOSoperating system, e.g., through the APPLE proprietary LIGHTNINGconnector. In some embodiments the communication interface may includecomponents for interfacing with an ANDROID device, for example through aUSB or micro USB connector. The term USB as used herein in the contextof describing a connector, port, plug or interface would be understoodto include any type of USB connector, port, plug or interface currentlyknow or later developed, for example mini and micro USB.

FIG. 2 shows auxiliary unit, which may also be referred to as auxiliaryunit, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. Theauxiliary unit 200 may be configured to be connected to a camera 230.The auxiliary unit 200 may include a battery 202 for charging the camera230. In some examples, the battery 202 may have capacity from about 100to about 200 mAH. In some examples, the battery's capacity may be up toabout 1000 mAH, or 4 WH. In some examples, the battery 202 may havegreater power storage capacity than the power storage capacity of thecamera's onboard power source. In some embodiments, where Wi-Fi, filecompression, or other power intensive functionalities reside in theauxiliary unit, the battery 202 may be very large, in some cases over1000 mAH or even 2500 mAH.

In some examples, the auxiliary unit 200 may additionally oralternatively include memory 204. The memory 204 may include volatilememory, non-volatile memory, or both. In some examples, the memory 204may include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory. In some examples,multiple non-volatile memories may be provided such as a flash memoryand an EEPROM as well as volatile memories such as a RAM. In someembodiments, the EEPROM may be utilized to embed algorithms for signalprocessing, while the flash memory may be embedded with signalcompression algorithms. In some examples, the storage capacity of thememory 204 may be 32 Gbytes or greater. In some embodiments, the storagecapacity of the auxiliary unit's memory may be greater than that of thecamera 230. In other examples, the adaptor memory's capacity may be thesame as or smaller than that of the camera. In some examples thecapacity may be less than 32 Gbytes, or less than 16 Gbytes. In someembodiments, the memory 204 may have minimal storage capacity and beconfigured to store no or very few photos or video files. In someexamples, the memory 204 may include only volatile memory, such as RAM.In some examples, the auxiliary unit 200 may not be configured forstoring images received from the camera but may only buffer data (e.g.,images) received from the camera prior to it being transmitted to anexternal device for storage such as a smart phone, a laptop, or a serveron the cloud. That is, in such examples, the auxiliary unit 200 may actonly as a pass through for any image data rather than providing imagestorage functionality. The auxiliary unit 200 may include a powermanagement module 206, a data management module (not shown), or both.

The power management module can monitor power needs of the auxiliaryunit and/or the camera being connected thereto, provide an alert whenpower of the adaptor or camera is too low, and implement a rechargingprocedure of the camera following a protocol that is programmed in thepower management module. The data management module can include or beoperatively associated with internal adaptor memory (e.g., memory 204)for storing data (e.g., photographs, audio and video files, or otherdata received from the camera, configuration data, executableinstructions, etc.) and implement a data management protocol fortransferring data from the camera, between the camera and an externaldevice, for erasing data from the camera, the adaptor, or both, and formonitoring memory capacity. In some embodiments, the adaptor has atleast 1 Gigabyte of internal memory. In some embodiments, the adaptorhas at least 32 Gigabytes of internal memory. In some embodiments, theadaptor 200 may include a microcontroller 208, which may be programmedto perform the functions of the power management module, the datamanagement module, or both. The microcontroller can have embeddedfirmware that can perform data processing tasks required for improvementof image quality. The case can transmit data to an APP comprising saidremote device. The microcontroller 208 may include firmware thatreprograms the firmware of the image sensor of the camera module. Thefirmware can perform image stabilization.

The auxiliary unit 200 may communication interface 207 for connectingthe adaptor 200 to the camera 230, an external power source 250, anexternal computing device 240, or any combination thereof. Thecommunication interface 207 may include one or more wired or wirelessinterfaces. For example, the communication interface 207 may include anynumber of wired interfaces 210 such as a USB interface, a LIGHTNINGinterface, or other standardized or proprietary wired interfaces nowknown or later developed.

FIGS. 3A-3D show configurations of an example auxiliary unit accordingto the present disclosure. The auxiliary unit 300 may include any or allof the components of auxiliary units according to any of the examplesherein, for example the components of auxiliary unit 200. The auxiliaryunit 300 may be implemented as a docking station or case which isdesigned for docking or receiving the EWD (e.g., camera 320). As such,the auxiliary unit 300 may include at least one configuration in whichthe auxiliary unit at least partially encloses the electronic wearabledevice (e.g., camera 320). In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit 300may fully enclose the electronic wearable device (e.g., camera 320). Theauxiliary unit 300 may include a dock or receptacle configured toreceive the camera 320. The dock or receptacle may be configured suchthat the camera when received therein is surrounded, at least partially,on two or more sides, on three or more sides, on four or more sides, onfive or more sides, or on all sides. In some examples, the dock orreceptacle may be configured such that the camera, when received in theauxiliary unit, is surrounded on all sounds for example fully surroundedon all sides.

The auxiliary unit 300 may include at least one external interface,e.g., for connecting the adaptor to external power and/or for connectingthe auxiliary unit to a mobile computing device, and a camera interfacefor communicatively connecting the auxiliary unit 300 to the camera. Thecamera interface may be integrated with the dock 310. The externalinterface may include one or a plurality of wired connectors, forexample a first connector 309 (e.g., a USB connector for plugging theauxiliary unit 300 to external power), a second connector 302 (e.g., amicro USB connector for connecting the auxiliary unit to an ANDROIDdevice) and a third connector 304 (e.g., a LIGHTNING connector forconnecting the auxiliary unit 300 to a iOS device). While three separateconnectors are shown in this example, it will be understood that theexternal interface may include any number of connectors including feweror greater number of connectors. In some embodiments, the externalinterface may be entirely or at least partially wireless.

Any one or more of the connectors may be configured to be at leastpartially concealed when not in use. For example, the adaptor 300 mayhave one or more user-operated actuators (e.g., buttons, switches, orsliders) which may be operable to at least partially conceal and/orexpose the desired connector for use. For example, adaptor 300 mayinclude a first actuator 308 configured to extend and retract a USBconnector. The adaptor 300 may include a second actuator 305 configuredto extend and retract another one of the connectors, for example themicro USB connector 302. The adaptor 300 may include a third actuatorconfigured to extend and retract yet another one of the connectors,e.g., the LIGHTNING connector 304. In some embodiments, a singleactuator may be configured to actuate two or more connectors. Forexample, in the case of male connectors, a single actuator may beconfigured to extend a male micro USB connector while retracting a maleLIGHTNING connector and conversely to extend the male LIGHTNINGconnector while retracting the male micro USB connector. In the case offemale connectors, a single actuator, such as a slider or door, may beoperable to conceal one female connector, such as a female micro USBconnector, while exposing a second female connector such as a femaleLIGHTNING connector and vice versa. Any combination of male and femaleconnectors may be used for the communication interface of the auxiliaryunit and other variations or combinations of actuators (e.g., buttons,switches, sliders, etc.) may be used to expose or activate one connectorwhile concealing or deactivating another connector. In some embodiments,the auxiliary unit 300 may be configured as a case such that it has atleast one configuration in which the camera 320 is at least partiallyenclosed. In such embodiments, one or more of the connectors of theadaptor 300 may be exposed or concealed by virtue of providing theadaptor between an open configuration (e.g., to receive the camera) anda closed configuration (e.g., in which the camera is docked or enclosedby the case).

FIG. 4 shows a wearable camera 430 attached to a wearable article 401,in this case eyewear 405. The camera 430 is illustrated attached to atemple 406 of the eyewear. In some examples, the camera 430 may bemovably attached to the eyewear (e.g., as indicated by arrow 402) suchthat the camera is positionable at multiple positions along the lengthof the temple including a position in which the camera is flush with orin front of the eyewear temple front 403. In some examples, the cameramay be configured to be positionable such that it is in front of theforward-most portion of the eyewear. The wearable camera is positionableat different locations on the temple, e.g., in order to minimize itsperipheral profile and thus limit or eliminate loss of peripheral fieldof view. Wearable cameras having too large a form factor and fixedfrontward positions may cause visual disturbance due to the appearanceof blind spots in the field of view and such problems may be alleviatedby examples of the present disclosure. The camera may be attachable to awearable article such as eyewear in accordance with any of the examplesdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/816,995, filed Aug. 3, 2015and published as 2016-0033792, and U.S. application Ser. No. 15/179,018,filed Jun. 10, 2016 and published as 2016-0363787, the content of whichapplications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for anypurpose.

FIGS. 5A-5C show views of a wearable camera 500. As described herein,the camera 500 may include an image sensor which may be located behindlens 501. The image sensor may be configured to capture image data,which may be stored in onboard camera memory. The camera 500 may alsoinclude a battery and an interface 506 for connecting the camera 500 toan auxiliary unit which may augment the functionality to the camera. Insome cases, the interface 506 may be configured to additionally oralternatively enable the camera 500 to be connected to a number ofdifferent external devices, such as an external power source connectedto the grid, a computing device, or other. In some examples, the camera500 may include a wired interface such as a USB port, in some cases afemale micro USB port. The camera 500 may include one or more usercontrol components 508 (e.g., one or more mechanical buttons or switchesor touch sensitive surfaces such as capacitive switches), one or moreindicators 516, a microphone 510, and a speaker 518. The camera mayinclude an attachment member for removably and/or movably coupling thecamera to eyewear. In some embodiments, the camera may be attachable tothe eyewear via magnetic means. The camera may include additionalfeatures 504 for securing the camera to the article other than bymagnetic means. The camera may be implemented in accordance with any ofthe examples described in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/757,753, filedDec. 23, 2015 and published as 2016-0182826, and U.S. application Ser.No. 15/627,759, filed Jun. 20, 2017, the content of which applicationsis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for any purpose.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of internal components of a wearablecamera. The camera may include image sensor 602, image signal processor604, microcontroller unit 606, flash memory 608, Wi-Fi chip 612,peripheral(s) 614, and microphone 616. The image sensor 602 may becoupled to image signal processor 604, which may be coupled tomicrocontroller unit 606. The microcontroller unit 606 may be coupled toflash memory 608, Wi-Fi chip 612, microphone 616, and peripheral(s) 614.Additional, fewer, and/or different components may be used in someexamples. The image sensor 602 may be configured to generate image data.The image signal processor 604 may be coupled to image sensor 602 andreceive image data from the image sensor 602 for processing, e.g.,compression, color balancing, image centering, image qualityenhancement, etc. The flash memory 608 may be coupled to microcontrollerunit 606 and may receive data (e.g., image data) for storage. Themicrocontroller unit 606 may include firmware to perform functions ofthe camera, such as image capture, memory access, control external datacommunication and one or more interfaces, peripherals, and feedbackdevices (e.g., microphone, light indicators, etc.). Such an approachmay, in some embodiments, be preferable to embedding signal processingalgorithms in the firmware controlling the image processor (i.e., on thecamera), as the camera can thus be made more compact. The camera mayalso include onboard power source 610, which may be recharged via awired or wireless power transfer from an external source such as theauxiliary unit, a wall power charger, or another computing device suchas a laptop, a smartphone, etc. The wearable camera of the presentdisclosure may be implemented further in accordance with any of theexamples described in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/789,574, filed Oct.20, 2017, the content of which application is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for any purpose.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an auxiliary unit according to furtherexamples. The auxiliary unit 700 may include one or more of thecomponents of an auxiliary unit in accordance with any combinationdescribed herein (e.g., auxiliary units 100, 200, 1610, etc.). Forexample, the auxiliary unit 700 may include a power source such as arechargeable battery 702, a memory 704, a power management module 706, amicrocontroller unit 708, and at least one communication component(e.g., wired interface 707 for connecting to a wearable electronicdevice (e.g., camera 730), an external power source 750, an externalcomputing device (e.g., smart phone 710), or any combination thereof.The auxiliary unit 700 may include one or more wireless interfaces 712,which may include a wireless transmitter/receiver such as a Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, or other type of wireless data transmitter/receiver (e.g.,3G, 4G, LTE cellular transmitter/receiver). In some embodiments, thewireless interface 712 may be configured to communicate with anothercomputing device via IEEE 802.15.1(Bluetooth and BLE), IEEE 802.11WIFI,IEEE 802.15.4(ZigBee), IEEE 802.16(WiMAX), or other form of wirelesstechnologies currently known, currently being developed, or that aredeveloped in the future. The wireless interface may be configured toprovide a data link between the auxiliary unit 700 and externalcomputing devices (e.g., a mobile computing device such as asmartphones, a table, a laptop, etc.) and in some embodiments, the datalink may be configured to enable data transfer at a rate of at least ⅕Mbytes/sec.

The auxiliary unit 700 may include a user interface. The user interfacemay include one or more indicators, buttons or other input devices, adisplay 716, and/or a speaker. The display can be, by way of exampleonly, an OLED, LCD, LED display. In some embodiments, the case may haveone or more actuators (e.g., a button or slider) which exposes orconceal connector plug(s) associated with a wired interface, if present.In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may be configured for wirelesspower transfer. For example, the auxiliary unit may include a wirelesspower transmitter/receiver, for example a coil for transmitting powerwirelessly to the camera and/or for receiving power wirelessly forcharging the battery 702. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit mayinclude charge level indicators for the camera and the auxiliary unit byway of example only, using LED arrays, as well as a micro display forpreviewing videos and stills, as well as, a means of providing otherstatus information about the camera and the auxiliary unit. In certainembodiments the auxiliary unit can contain a projector. The projectorcan project images (photo or video) that have been captured by thecamera.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show further examples of auxiliary units, also referredto as auxiliary units 800 and 800′ according to the present disclosure.The auxiliary units 800, 800′, similar to auxiliary unit 300, mayinclude a dock 810 configured to receive camera 820. The auxiliary units800, 800′ may also include one or more wired connectors and/or one ormore wireless connectors and actuators for activating the one or moreconnectors. Both auxiliary units 800 and 800′ may include at least one awired connector (e.g., a USB connector 802) for example for connectingthe auxiliary unit 800, 800′ to external power. The auxiliary unit 800may further include a combination of wired (e.g., USB type C, micro USB304, LIGHTNING 806, etc.) and wireless connectors, for example forconnecting the auxiliary unit 800 to a mobile computing device such as asmart phone, a laptop, a tablet, or a desktop computer, server, or othercomputing device. The auxiliary unit 800 may include one or moreindicators 812 for providing feedback to the user, such as an alert orstatus of the auxiliary unit or the camera. For example, the indicatorsmay include a pairing indicator configured to provide an indication ofsuccessful pairing, pairing in process, or an indication of anestablished or active wireless connection (e.g., such as when data isbeing transmitted to or from the auxiliary unit) or to provide any othertype of indication of status (e.g., power level, charging status, datatransfer status, etc.). The auxiliary unit 800′ on the other hand mayinclude only wireless connectors for communicatively coupling to othercomputing devices, and may similarly include one or more indicators 812to provide an indication of status. The auxiliary units 800, 800′ mayadditionally optionally include a display 814, e.g., for displayingstatus information and/or displaying and/or editing of images (e.g.,photos and video).

In some embodiments, e.g., as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2,and 7, the auxiliary unit may include an internal power source, alsoreferred to as auxiliary power source or auxiliary battery. Theauxiliary power source may be a rechargeable battery such as a lithiumion battery. In some embodiments, the auxiliary power source may havecapacity which is greater than the capacity of the camera's onboardmemory. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may include internalmemory, also referred to as auxiliary memory, and interface electronicsfor communication with the camera and/or external computing devices suchas a smart phone, a table or other portable electronic device. In someembodiments, the auxiliary unit may include non-volatile memory such asFlash memory, for data storage. In some embodiments, the auxiliarymemory may only be volatile memory and the auxiliary unit may beconfigured only as a pass through device to pass data received to acamera to another computing device for storage without storing the data(e.g., photos and/or video) on the auxiliary unit. In some embodiments,the auxiliary unit may include a controller (e.g., microcontroller unit(MCU)), in which embodiments, the auxiliary unit may be referred to asmart. For example, in examples in which the auxiliary unit isimplemented as a case (e.g., which enable the camera to be physicallyattached such as to be docked or enclosed within the case), a casehaving a controller may be referred to as smart case. The controllermay, in conjunction with memory, provide additional functionality to thecamera, such as storage of images, reprogramming of the camera,facilitating communication between the camera and an external computersuch as an internet server or a smart phone, and editing or other imageprocessing of images or image data received from the camera.

As described, in some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may be implementedas a case. In some examples, the case can charge a camera via a wiredconnection. In some examples, the case can charge a camera wirelessly.The case can charge a camera wirelessly when the camera is at leastpartially enclosed in the case. In some embodiments, the case may beconfigured to house the camera such that camera is substantially sealedin the case. The case may include a controller (e.g. an MCU) and memoryand may be referred to as a smart case. Table 1 shows features of a caseaccording to some examples of the present disclosure.

TABLE 1 Features of a Smart Case for a wearable camera. Dimensions Lessthan 150 mm length; less than 250 cc; in some embodiments Less than 100mm length, less than 75 mm wide and less than 50 mm thick; Weight Lessthan 1 lb Data management and WIFI and Bluetooth capability transmissionData storage 128 GB Memory or less Data processing Image processingPower management Power capacity of up to 5 watts; Energy capacity up to5 WH; Recharging battery of wearable device; Wireless or hard wiredcharging of battery in case. User interface Switching by means ofbuttons; LED indicators of performance, buzzers, vibrators

A smart case according to the present disclosure may include arechargeable battery with a relatively large energy capacity (ascompared to the energy capacity of the EWD) and be capable of rechargingthe battery of the wearable device multiple times, in some cases atleast 5 times, before requiring recharge of the case. The smart case mayinclude a memory module that is capable of storing many hundreds ofstill photographs, and many minutes of audio recordings and videos,received from the wearable device either via wireless transfer or via awired connection such as a USB port. The smart case may include amicrocontroller (MCU) or a microprocessor unit (MPU) that can performdata processing, image processing e.g., for improving the image qualityof images (stills or video) received from the camera. The smart case mayfurther include a wireless energy and/or a data transfer system based oneither proprietary or standard architecture (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Qi,etc.). The controller (e.g., MCU or MPU) may be configured to monitorscharge level of the battery or memory storage (e.g., amount of availablestorage) in the case and/or the wearable camera and sends alert signals(audio or light) when power level or memory storage level reaches a setthreshold or falls below a certain threshold (e.g., below 15%, 10%, or5% as examples only). When wireless power is provided for powering orcharging the case the case can further comprise a coil. It should bepointed out that in certain other embodiments the smart case can chargethe camera by way of physical connection such as by way of example only,a micro USB port, or a USB type C port, and not by way of wirelesspower. The charging would occur when the female micro USB port of thecamera is connected to the smart case by way of the male USB port of thesmart case.

The case may include a rechargeable battery that may be wirelesslycharged from a wireless transmitter. The case may include a rechargeablebattery that may be recharged from a wall outlet. The rechargeablebattery can have an energy capacity of 5 watt hours or less. The casemay include a power management module and a data management modulewherein both power and data management modules may reside inside asingle microcontroller within the case. The power management module maybe configured to monitor power needs of the case and the wearabledevice, provide an alert and implement a recharging procedure of saiddevice following a protocol that is programmed in a microcontrollercomprising said power management module. The data management module mayinclude a memory module that can store data, photographs, audio andvideo files and is not less than 1 gigabyte in size and can be that of32 gigabytes or more, wherein data transfer and storage in said memorymodule is managed by said microcontroller. The microcontroller can haveembedded firmware that can perform data processing tasks required forimprovement of image quality. The case can transmit data to an APPcomprising said remote device. The microcontroller can comprise firmwarethat reprograms the firmware of the image sensor of the camera module.The firmware can perform image stabilization.

In some embodiments, the camera is equipped with a wireless receiver forreceiving power from the smart case. The smart case includes a wirelesstransmitter for providing power to the camera and to recharge thebattery inside the camera. The battery in the camera maybe, by way ofexample only, a lithium ion, lithium polymer, or a solid-state battery.Wireless power systems may include loosely coupled inductive charging orother techniques as described, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No.14/969,455, filed Dec. 15, 2015 and published as 2016-0172870, and U.S.application Ser. No. 15/183,368, filed Jun. 15, 2016, and published as2016-0294225, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety for any purpose. In certain embodiments the smart case caninclude a wireless power transmitter capable of providing wireless powerto multiple wirelessly coupled electronic devices located within aneffective wireless power transfer range of the smart case. One of theelectronic devices can be that of a camera.

The camera may include dual band wireless communication to transmit datafiles (images or video) to an external device, such as the smart case, asmartphone, or to receive commands from an external device, such as byway of example only, a smartphone. Since commands to the camera wouldrequire less bandwidth they may be sent to the camera over low powerwireless such as Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy. These commands couldinclude, by way of example only, taking a photo by pushing a button onyour smartphone screen form inside an APP that interfaces with thecamera by Bluetooth transmission. Bluetooth could also be used for shortmessaging to the external devices such as the Smart Case or asmartphone, providing system status information. Larger data filestransferred from the camera may be done over Wi-Fi to the smart case ordirectly to another device, such as a smartphone. To preserve power, insome embodiments the Wi-Fi can be operated when the camera is in aproximity to the case or close enough to be well powered by the case sothat the power demands for the Wi-Fi transmission do not over load thepower supply of the camera. In other embodiments, the Wi-Fi is operatedwhen the camera is located within the case. The wireless communicationto the case may also be done with proprietary protocols modulated overthe wireless charging signals directly to the smart case. In still otherembodiments the smart case can transfer large data files eitherwirelessly or by a wired connection.

The smart case may also have a track assembly as shown in FIGS. 13 and14 that help guide the camera into the connector of the smart case toensure solid mating between the camera and the smart case.

In still other embodiments GPS data may be sent from the camera to thesmart case or to a smart phone to help locate the camera if it is lostor misplaced by the user. The case can also be designed to providealerts. These alerts can inform those within proximity of the case of,by way of example only, general phone calls, important phone calls,important messages and general messages. The case can alert by way ofexample by, vibration, light, sound.

In another embodiment the smart case can also provide operation supportto eyeglasses capable of projecting AR. Typically, AR modules aremounted at or near the head, since they have to project images in theline of sight. In one preferred embodiment, the AR module is mounted onthe temple of a pair of eyeglasses, on the inner (closest to head) side,close to the hinges, from which images are projected at the innersurface of the eyeglass lens by means of a light pipe. The AR module isprovided with a battery that is relatively small, e.g., less than 10MAhrs, but can be frequently recharged by placing it in a smart casewhen not being actively used by the wearer. Similarly, the memory chipin the power and data management system required by the AR module has abattery that is also small, such as less than 4 GB in capacity. In oneembodiment, the smart case wirelessly transmits data to the AR module inreal time. In a second embodiment, the smart case controls the operationof the AR module wirelessly by transmitting commands in real time. In athird embodiment, the smart case recharges the battery in the AR modulethrough a USB port when the AR module is placed inside the smart case.In a fourth embodiment, the smart case receives data from an APPprogrammed into a smart phone and feeds such data wirelessly into the ARmodule in real time, whereas direct data download from an APP to the ARmodule may present bandwidth problems and prevent seamless streaming ofdata. The benefit is that the AR module can be made smaller and lighter,and consumes less power since many of the operations of the power anddata management system can be performed by the electronics embedded inthe smart case. In certain embodiments, the battery is rechargeable andis removable and can be charged in the smart case while the AR moduleremains on attached on the eyewear and then electrically reconnected tothe AR module. In these embodiments the rechargeable battery can belocated on the outside side of the temple furthest away from the head ofthe wearer or on the inside side of the temple closest to the head ofthe wearer. When an AR module is connected to eyewear it can do so byway of attaching to a non-electrified track such as that of the eyeweartemple.

According to some examples, a smart case may be configured to transferdata (e.g., images received from the camera) to any of a variety ofexternal computing devices such as a smart phone (iPhone or Androidsmart phone), tablet, laptop computer, or in some cases wirelesslydirectly to the cloud. In some examples, the transfer rate via a USBinterface from the smart case may be about 40 Mbytes per second. In someembodiments, the smart case may be configured to transfer datawirelessly. The smart case may be configured to transfer data accordingto the transfer rates shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Typical Data transfer rates from smart case supporting awearable camera. Method/File type ANDROID IPHONE 1 Meg compressed JPEG 3 sec  6 sec 10 second video via BT 90 sec 180 sec

FIG. 9 shows an auxiliary unit implemented as a case 900 for anelectronic wearable device, e.g., a camera, in accordance with someexamples of the present disclosure. The case 900 can include any of thecomponents of auxiliary units described herein. For example, the case900 may include a power source (e.g., a rechargeable battery 930 asshown in FIG. 12), data storage (e.g., non-volatile memory 944 as shownin FIG. 12), a controller (e.g., MCU 942 as shown FIG. 12), which may besupported by and electrically connected via one or more circuit boards(e.g., PCB 940 or a flex board). In some embodiments, the MCU 942 may beconfigured to provide power management function, data managementfunction, or both. In some embodiments, the MCU 942 may be configured toprocess image data received from the camera, e.g., to compress the imagedata, decompress the image data, encrypt or decrypt image data, orimprove image quality of images captured by the camera. The MCU 942 maybe configured to process image data further responsive to user inputs,such as to edit (e.g., crop, align, tag, etc.) images captured by theuser prior to the images being transmitted externally for storage. Insome embodiments, the MCU 942 may be configured to reprogram the imagesensor, or any other reprogrammable components of the camera.

In some embodiments, the case may include both wired and wirelessinterfaces. In some embodiments, one of the interfaces may be used fordata communication between the camera and case and the other may be usedfor power transmission to the camera. For example, a wireless interfacemay be used to wirelessly charge the camera while data is beingcommunicated to the case via a wired data link. In some embodiments,these may be reversed and power may be transmitted to the camera via awired link while data is being downloaded from the camera. In yetfurther embodiments, a wired link may be used for both data and powertransfer as between the camera and case while a wireless link is usedfor external communication (e.g., for power reception by the case and/ordata transmission to an external device). In yet further embodiments,this arrangement may be reversed in that communication between thecamera and case may be wireless and external communication of the casemay be via a wired link. In some examples, any one of the wired orwireless interfaces of the cameras may have multiple uses, for example awired USB interface may be used for both recharging of the case and fordata transfer from the case to an external device. The same or anotherUSB interface (e.g., a micro USB interface) may be used for connectingto the camera. Similarly, any wireless interface (e.g., Wi-Fi module)may be used to communicate wirelessly with the camera and/or an externaldevice (e.g., a smart phone, or the cloud).

In some embodiments, the case's camera interface may be configured toprovide data transfer at different rates (e.g. a first relative slowerrate and a second relatively faster rate). In some embodiments, the MCU942 may be configured to activate the faster data transfer rate onlywhen the case is also wirelessly transmitting power to the camera. Insome embodiments, the case may have multiple wired interfaces. Forexample, in the illustrated example, case 900 includes a first wiredinterface 908, which may be a USB connector 909 (in this case a malemicro USB connector) and may function as the camera interface. The case900 may also include at least one additional wired interface, forexample another USB interface 918 (e.g., a female USB connector), anAPPLE proprietary LIGHTNING interface 920 (e.g., female LIGHTNINGconnector), and/or any other type of currently known or later developedconnector technology. The case 900 may include internal electroniccomponents configured to enable the case to communicatively couple to anAPPLE device (e.g., a device operating on the iOS), an ANDROID device,or both. In some embodiments, the external interface may include atleast one male connector such as male USB plug, a male LIGHTNING plug,or both, in addition to or alternatively to any male connectors of thecamera interface.

In some embodiments, the case 900 may include one or more buttons 922(e.g., as part of a user interface of the device). The button 922 may beimplemented as a mechanical button or a touch sensitive switch and maybe operable to receive user input, such as to activate a function of thecase, e.g., activate a data link, activate a monitoring/status/alertfunction, etc. In some embodiments, the case 900 may include one or morebuttons for reconfiguring of the case 900. For example, the case mayinclude an actuator which enables the case to be provided in the openconfiguration to enable docking of the camera. In one embodiment, theactuator may be a latch release operable to disengage a locking functionof the case's door, which may then be openable or may automaticallyspring open responsive to operation of the latch release. In someembodiments, the case 900 may include an actuator 923 configured to atleast partially expose or at least partially conceal an interfaceconnector, e.g., by extending/retracting a male connector,opening/closing a door of a female connector, etc. For example, theactuator may be a mechanical button, which when depressed extends oneconnector (e.g., a USB or a LIGHTNING connector) from a side of thehousing. In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to extendone connector while concealing another connector of the communicationinterface (e.g., extends a micro USB connector while concealing theLIGHTNING connector, or vice versa). In some embodiments, the actuatormay be implemented as a sliding cover, which is slidable betweenmultiple positions to conceal one or more connectors while exposinganother connector. Other variations and combinations of actuators canalso be used.

In some embodiments, the capacity of memory 944 may not exceed 1 GByte.In some embodiment, the memory 944 may have capacity of up to 8 GBytes,10 GBytes or greater. The energy capacity of the battery 930, in someembodiments, may be 5 watt hours or less. In some embodiments, thecapacity of the memory 944 may be greater than the capacity of thecamera's onboard memory. In some embodiments, the memory 944 may havesmaller storage capacity or no storage capacity at all and may insteadonly pass through images received from the camera to an external devicefor storage. In some embodiments, the capacity of the battery 930 may begreater than the capacity of the camera's onboard power source. Theinternal components of the case may be enclosed within a housing, e.g.,between upper and lower portions 910-1, 910-2 respectively of thehousing 910. The case may include a user interface 915 as will befurther described.

In embodiments of case 900, the case may be configured to wirelesslycharge the camera 1010 and/or wirelessly recharge its battery 930. Thecase 900 may include a power transmission coil for wirelessly chargingcamera 1010. In some embodiments, the MCU 942 may activate the powertransmission coil upon detection of a communication link with the camera1010 (e.g., when the camera 1010 has been detected as plugged into theconnector 909 or when the camera has been placed within a charging rangeof the coil). In some embodiments, the MCU 942 may activate the powertransmission coil when the camera is received in the case, which may bedetected also via any other type of means (e.g., proximity detection,detection of closing of the movable portion of the housing or door,etc.). In some embodiments, the MCU 942 may be additionally oralternatively configured to activate data transmission from the camerato case 900 when the camera is plugged into or otherwise communicativelyconnected to the case. As noted, the case 900 may, in some embodiments,be able to be wirelessly recharged. The case may include a powerreception coil for receiving power wirelessly from an external powersource (e.g., a wireless power base unit). In some embodiments, thepower transmission and power reception functions may be performed by thesame coil. In some embodiments, the case may include a dual bandtransmitter/receiver, at least one of the bands being configured, insome embodiments, for wireless power transmission/reception. In someembodiments, at least one of the bands may be used for data transfer.

In some embodiments, the case 900 may have overall dimensions such thatthe volume of the case does not exceed about 50 cubic cm. In someembodiments, the case's volume may be up to about 250 cubic cm. In otherembodiments, the case may be larger than 250 cubic cm. In someembodiments, the case may be shaped as a parallelepiped, however othershapes, regular or irregular, are envisioned (e.g., an oval shape,tubular shape, bean shaped, etc.). The case 900 may be sized to fit intoa person's hand, or to be otherwise carried by hand, within a pocket, apurse, or carries elsewhere on the user's person. The case 900 may be upto 70 mm in length (L), or up to 100 mm in length, or up to 150 mm inlength. In some embodiments, the case may be up to 45 mm in width (W),or up to 65 mm in width, or up to 85 mm in width. In some embodiments,the case may have an overall length of up to about 120 mm and an overallwidth of up to about 90 mm. In some embodiments, the case may be up to20 mm in thickness (T), or up to 35 mm in thickness, or up to 40 mm inthickness. In some embodiments, the case may be portable and its weightmay conveniently not exceed 250 grams. In some embodiments, the weightof the case may be up to about 1200 grams.

Referring now also to FIGS. 10-12 further features of the case 900 willbe described. The case 900 may include at least one configuration inwhich the case at least partially encloses a wearable camera. In theillustrated example, the case 900 is configured to enclose camera 1010when the camera is positioned within the docking receptacle 912 andconnected to the wired interface 908 of the case (see e.g., FIGS. 10 and11). The case 900 may include a first portion and a second portion whichmay be movable in relation to the first portion. The second portion maybe configured to be provided in a position which enables the camera tobe received in the case 900. For example, the second portion may includea door which is movable relative to the first portion of the case toallow the camera to be placed in the receptacle 912.

The case 900 of this example includes a housing 910, which may be madeof any type of a suitable plastic material such as any type of injectionmoldable plastic material. The housing 910 may enclose some or all ofthe internal electronic components of the case. In some embodiments, thehousing may have a main housing portion 902 and a movable housingportion 904. The main housing portion 902 may enclose some or all of theinternal electronic components while the movable housing portion may bemovably coupled to the main housing portion to enable the case to beprovided in a configuration for insertion of the camera and for at leastpartially enclosing the camera. In other embodiments, the case may nothave a movable housing portion but may instead simply include a dockingreceptacle configured to receiving the camera at least partiallytherein. In some embodiments, a movable housing portion may be pivotallycoupled to the main housing portion (e.g., via pivot join 914, as shownin FIGS. 10-12). In other embodiments, the movable housing portion maybe otherwise movably coupled (e.g., slidably coupled) or removablycoupled (e.g., with the movable housing portion being completelydetachable and re-attachable to the main housing portion). In someembodiments, the movable or removable housing portion, which may also bereferred to as a door or lid, may be magnetically attachable to the bodyportion. In some embodiments, the case may be water proof. In someembodiments, the case may be water resistant.

The case 900 may include a user interface 915, which may provide userfeedback and/or be configured to receive user input. In someembodiments, the case 900 may include one or more indicators 916. Forexample, the case 900 may include one or more status indicators, forexample for indicating power level 916-1 (e.g., of the case, of thecamera being docked to the case, or both for example by illuminating alight of a given color to indicate the status of the camera andillumination a different color light to indicate status of the case). Insome examples, separate indicators may be used (e.g., indicator 916-1and 916-3 to indicate the status of the case and camera, respectively.The case may further include a status indicator for indicating acommunication function status. For example, the indicator 916-2 may beconfigured to provide pairing in progress, pairing status, or to provideindication of data transfer activity, e.g., with the indicatorilluminating or blinking when data is being transmitted wirelessly fromthe case to an external device such as a smart phone. The case mayinclude a memory indicator (e.g., to provide an indication of an amountof available memory or amount of available storage used). In someembodiments, the case may include one or more indicators configured toprovide an alert or status of the camera (e.g., provide indication oflow charge, low memory, outdated programming such as firmware of thecamera, etc.) In some embodiments, the case may be configured to providestatus of the camera only when the camera is docket to the case. Theterm docked in the present context would be understood to meancommunicatively coupled, which in some examples will mean physicallyconnected e.g., in instances where the case has a wired camerainterface. In some embodiments, the user interface may additionally oralternatively include feedback devices configured to provide feedbackother than visual feedback, for example audible or tactile feedback. Forexample, the case 900, in some embodiments, may be configured to producea sound or activate a vibrator to provide a status or alert. In yetfurther embodiments, the case 900′ may include a display 925 (see e.g.,FIG. 15). The display 925 may be implemented using LED, OLED, or otherdisplay technology currently known or later developed. The display 925may be a touch sensitive display. The display 925 may be arranged on anexterior surface of the housing 910′ or it may be on an interior surfacesuch that it is at least partially concealed when the case is in aclosed configuration. In some embodiments, status or alert function(e.g., as provided at least partially by indicators 916) mayadditionally or alternatively be provided by the display 925.

As described, the case 900 may be configured to be provided in at leastan open configuration (which allows the camera to be received in thecase) and a closed configuration (e.g., in the case where the camera issubstantially fully enclosed). The case 900 may include a movableportion 904 or door which allows the opening and closing of the case.The door may be hinged and may include one or more hinged portions, orit may be a sliding door. In some cases, it may be fully removable andre-attachable, e.g., via a snap fit connection. The door may protect thecamera when stored in the case (i.e., when not in use) and/or mayfacilitate a better connection with the case (e.g., by applying apressure on the camera towards the connector 909 when the camera isinserted in the case and the door is closed. The case may be waterresistant to an ingress protection rating of 44. In some embodiments,e.g., when the smart case includes a wired external interface such as aUSB interface, the case may be provided with a seal at the interface(e.g., a rubber flap covering the USB connector for improving waterresistance).

A smart case according to one example includes the product specificationlisted in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Specifications of an example case for a wearable camera (alsoreferred to herein as “smart case”). Dimensions about 67 mm by about 40mm by about 18 mm Weight Less than 250 grams Memory capacity 8 GBcapable of storing about 8000 photos (JPEG) or 45 min of video ProcessorMCU STM32F205VGT6 provided by STMicroelectronics or a comparable unitPower ON Indicator LED Battery run time 5 recharges of the battery inthe wearable camera per charge of the smart case battery lasting about30 days if not used to charge camera down load 500 still photographs and10 minutes of video via BT Battery charge time about 60 min for thesmart case battery (Not running) Battery recharge time about 20 minBattery life 3 years IR Rating water resistant to IP 44 StorageTemperature range about −20 C. to about 45 C. Use temperature rangeabout 0 C. to about 45 C. Battery type Secondary Li ion Display(optional) OLED or LED

Additionally, the smart case may include electronic components as listedbelow:

Components Details Bluetooth module ST SPBT3.0DP2 provided by STMicroelectronics or a comparable Bluetooth module Memory microSD cardholder with 8 GB microSD card ULPI high-speed USB chip MicrochipUSB3300-EZK-TR Power management LDO, buck-boost, boost (see BOM fordetails) components Battery 250 mAh/220 mAh Renata ICP521630/Fullriver451248 Apple MFI authentication co-processor 2.0 C

In some embodiments, the Bluetooth interface of a case according to thepresent disclosure may be configured to support one or more of thefollowing services: File Transfer Profile (FTP), Serial Port Profile(SPP), iPod Accessory Protocol 2 (iAP2), or any combination thereof. TheBluetooth interface may be configured to support any other Bluetoothservice as may be desired. In some embodiments, the Bluetooth interfacemay be configured to support Apple MFI iAP2 over I2C interface to anApple MFI authentication coprocessor.

In some embodiments, the controller (e.g., MCU) of the case may includecustom firmware configured to perform image processing and/or imageenhancement. For example, the ISP of the camera module of the wearablecamera may be programmed to execute a specific image integration time,e.g., 20 milliseconds. A shorter image integration time reduces imageblur due to camera movement, but reduces image clarity in low lightenvironments. In some embodiments, the MCU of the case may be configuredto set the image integration time depending on ambient light level ofthe environment. The MCU of the case may comprise firmware that canperform subpixel processing in order to further improve image contrast,add low or high band pass filters and add Gaussian blur to furtherimprove image quality. The reprogramming of the ISP of the camera moduleadds an important capability to the camera, for example, imageprocessing features such as color balancing may be improved in thismanner. Furthermore, the firmware in the MCU of the case may be alsoused to add new features such as control of a focusing element, anelectronically controlled aperture, image stabilization algorithms, andso on. The case may be configured to communicate with a mobile computingdevice, e.g., a smart phone, through an APP installed on the smartphone. In some embodiments, the APP on the smartphone may indicateusable battery level and memory level of the camera and the smart case.

In some embodiments, the case may include a built-in track to align andsecure the camera when placed in the case. For example, FIGS. 13 and 14show examples of s smart case including a track. The track may beprovided, e.g., in examples having a wired camera interface, along asurface of the case which is generally parallel with a major surface ofa male plug, that is the surface of the largest side of the plug. In theexample in FIG. 13, the plug is oriented such that the major surfaces ofthe plug are generally parallel with the major surfaces of the case. Thetrack is therefore disposed along a surface which is also generallyparallel with the major surfaces of the case, for example, the track maybe provided on a lower interior surface or an upper interior surface ofthe docking receptacle. In the example in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the plughas been rotated by 90 degrees such that the major surfaces (e.g., thewider dimension) of the plug is generally perpendicular to the majorsurfaces of the case. In this example, the track may be provided on asurface that is generally perpendicular to the major surfaces of thecase. These example assume a configuration of the camera as illustratedin FIGS. 5A-5C, that is, an embodiment in which that the attachmentmember of the camera 1010 for securing the camera to the eyewear isarranged on a surface parallel to the widest dimension of the opening ofthe female connector of the camera. In other embodiments, the attachmentmember of the camera and/or connector may be differently arrangedrelative to the camera connector thus driving a different arrangement ofthe track of the case. As will be appreciated, in embodiments in whichthe case is provided with a track, the attachment member of the cameramay thus provide a dual functionality for 1) attaching the camera to thewearable article (e.g., eyewear) and 2) aligning and securing the camerarelative to the case. In addition, interior dimensions of the dockingreceptacle may be such that closing of the case after receiving thecamera therein further secures the camera and ensure engagement of thecamera female connector to the male connector of the case, such as bypressing against the side of the camera opposite the connector when thecamera is inside the case and the case has been provided in the closedconfiguration. The track of the case may not be magnetic and stillprovide alignment and a securing function in combination with theconnector plug to which the camera is plugged when docked in the case.In other embodiments, the track of the case may be a magnetic tracksimilar to a track of eyewear to which an example camera is designed toattach.

The case can be configured to monitor the status of the case and/or thecamera when coupled thereto. For example, the case can monitor thecharge of the camera and/or of the case, available storage onboard thecamera and/or the case, pairing status, data transfer status, etc. Thecase may be configured to provide an indication of status. The case mayprovide an alert, for example a vibration, a sound, or a light. Thealert may be an indication of a status being monitored.

In some embodiments the case 1410 may include a display 1412, e.g., asshown in FIG. 14. The display can be that of, by way of example only, anOLED display, LED display. The case (e.g., case 1410) can includesoftware which allows the user to perform auto-centering, auto-rotation,auto-alignment, auto-cropping and image enhancement on images capturedby the camera. The display 1412 may be a touch display that allows theuser to manipulate, rotate, crop, enhance, or otherwise edit the imageprior to storing it on the smart case memory or prior to sending it tothe cloud or to a website such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or othersocial media site.

FIG. 16 shows a functional block diagram of a smart case in accordancewith examples of the present disclosure. The smart case 1610 includes abattery 1612, memory 1614, microcontroller 1616, power managementcircuitry 1618, an authentication processor 1620, multiple wirelessinterfaces (e.g., a Bluetooth module 1622, Wi-Fi module 1624, and awireless data transfer module 1626 such as a 4G cellular communicationmodule or other), a user interface including a display 1628 and one ormore indicators (not shown), and multiple wired interfaces (e.g., a USBC male connector 1630 such as for coupling the smart case to a wearablecamera 1640, and a USB C female connector 1632 such as for coupling thesmart case to an external power source such as a wall adapter charger1636 or to a laptop computer 1638). The smart case 1610 may includeadditional components from any of the auxiliary units described hereinor may have fewer components than those illustrated in otherembodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates a diagram of electronics architecture of anauxiliary unit in accordance with at least one example of the presentdisclosure. The electronics architecture in FIG. 17 may be used toimplement some components of the auxiliary unit, for example, an MCU,Bluetooth module, and other components of the auxiliary unit, such ascomponents shown in FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 17, the MCU of anauxiliary unit may be coupled to a BT module which, in this embodiment,includes necessary functionality to interface directly with a MFiauthentication chip. In this manner, no connections may be requiredbetween the MFi authentication chip and the MCU. The MCU is furtherconfigured to control the various user interface features of the LEDbank and the data transfer to the memory card, as well as the USBinterface for data transfer between the case an external computingdevice.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of an example firmware architecture for amicrocontroller of a smart case according to the present disclosure. Themicrocontroller 1800 may include an application layer 1810, a middlewareand drivers/support layer 1812, and a hardware layer 1814. Thearrangement of components shown in FIG. 18 is exemplary only and othercombinations including adding, removing or rearrangement components areenvisions.

In some embodiments the auxiliary unit (e.g., smart case) may includewireless communication link configured to connect directly to theinternet, e.g., as shown in FIG. 19B, such that files from the auxiliaryunit can be transmitted directly to one's e-mail account, social mediaaccount, or to cloud based storage. The auxiliary unit can also includegeolocation (such as GPS) and time/date indication which can be added toimages captured by the wearable camera. FIG. 19B shows an operationalscenario in which a wearable camera 1900 transmits data wirelessly (orin some cases via wired connection) to a smart case 1910′ (e.g., whendocked therein or when in operation range of the wireless receiver andin accordance with data transfer protocols provided in the smart caseand/or camera), and the smart case 1910′ wirelessly transmits datareceived from the camera directly to an internet server 1930, e.g., forstorage on the cloud or upload to a social media site, without requiringthe smart case to be connected to any other intermediate computingdevices. In FIG. 19A, the operational scenario includes a wearablecamera 1900 which transmits data wirelessly (or in some cases via wiredconnection) to a smart case 1910 (e.g., when docked therein or when inoperation range of the wireless receiver and in accordance with datatransfer protocols provided in the smart case and/or camera), and thesmart case 1910 transmits data received from the camera wirelessly (orin some cases via a wired connection) to a portable computing device(e.g., a smart phone 1920), which can then transmit the data to aninternet server 1930, e.g., for cloud storage or upload to a socialmedia site.

Further examples of auxiliary units configured for connection with thewearable device to a common platform are described with furtherreference to FIGS. 20-21. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may beconfigured to connect as an extension to an electronic wearable device(e.g., a wearable camera) such that the auxiliary unit and the EWDtogether form a wearable device which can connect to a common platform(e.g., a wearable article such as eyewear). The wearable camera may beany camera designed to worn on the body or on an article worn on thebody, by way of example only, an eyewear frame. For example, a wearablecamera may be a camera having a sufficiently small form factor to beable to attach the camera to eyewear, such as by attaching it to a sideof the temple. Although example of auxiliary unit thus connectable to aEWD is described primarily in connection with wearable cameras, it willbe understood that the EWD may be any other type of EWD other thancamera such as, by way of example only, an image display system, an airquality sensor, a UV/HEV sensor, a pedometer, a night light, a bluetooth enabled communication device such as blue tooth headset, a hearingaid or an audio system. In some examples, the electronic device may beworn elsewhere on the body, for example around the wrist (e.g., anelectronic watch or a biometric device, such as a pedometer). Theelectronic device 200 may be another type of electronic device otherthan the specific examples illustrated. The electronic device 200 may bevirtually any miniaturized electronic device, for example and withoutlimitation a camera, image capture device, IR camera, still camera,video camera, image sensor, repeater, resonator, sensor, soundamplifier, directional microphone, eyewear supporting an electroniccomponent, spectrometer, directional microphone, microphone, camerasystem, infrared vision system, night vision aid, night light,illumination system, sensor, pedometer, wireless cell phone, mobilephone, wireless communication system, projector, laser, holographicdevice, holographic system, display, radio, GPS, data storage, memorystorage, power source, speaker, fall detector, alertness monitor,geo-location, pulse detection, gaming, eye tracking, pupil monitoring,alarm, CO sensor, CO detector, CO2 sensor, CO2 detector, air particulatesensor, air particulate meter, UV sensor, UV meter, IR sensor IR meter,thermal sensor, thermal meter, poor air sensor, poor air monitor, badbreath sensor, bad breath monitor, alcohol sensor, alcohol monitor,motion sensor, motion monitor, thermometer, smoke sensor, smokedetector, pill reminder, audio playback device, audio recorder, speaker,acoustic amplification device, acoustic canceling device, hearing aid,assisted hearing assisted device, informational earbuds, smart earbuds,smart ear-wearables, video playback device, video recorder device, imagesensor, fall detector, alertness sensor, alertness monitor, informationalert monitor, health sensor, health monitor, fitness sensor, fitnessmonitor, physiology sensor, physiology monitor, mood sensor, moodmonitor, stress monitor, pedometer, motion detector, geo-location, pulsedetection, wireless communication device, gaming device, eyewearcomprising an electronic component, augmented reality system, virtualreality system, eye tracking device, pupil sensor, pupil monitor,automated reminder, light, alarm, cell phone device, phone, mobilecommunication device, poor air quality alert device, sleep detector,doziness detector, alcohol detector, thermometer, refractive errormeasurement device, wave front measurement device, aberrometer, GPSsystem, smoke detector, pill reminder, speaker, kinetic energy source,microphone, projector, virtual keyboard, face recognition device, voicerecognition device, sound recognition system, radioactive detector,radiation detector, radon detector, moisture detector, humiditydetector, atmospheric pressure indicator, loudness indicator, noiseindicator, acoustic sensor, range finder, laser system, topographysensor, motor, micro motor, nano motor, switch, battery, dynamo, thermalpower source, fuel cell, solar cell, kinetic energy source, thermoelectric power source, smart band, smart watch, smart earring, smartnecklace, smart clothing, smart belt, smart ring, smart bra, smartshoes, smart footwear, smart gloves, smart hat, smart headwear, smarteyewear, and other such smart devices. In some examples, the electronicwearable device may be a smart device.

The auxiliary unit may be configured to attach to the camera through anyphysical connection between the auxiliary unit and camera. The physicalconnection may in some examples also provide an electrical connectionbetween the camera and auxiliary unit. In some examples, the physicalconnection may be operatively associated with a wired camera interfaceto enable communicatively coupling the camera to the auxiliary unit. Insome embodiments, the physical connection between the wearable cameraand an auxiliary unit may provide at least two electrical connectionpoints between the wearable camera and the auxiliary unit. The auxiliaryunit may be configured to function as an extension power source, whichwhen combined with the onboard power source of the camera forms acomposite power source. In other words, the term composite power sourcemay be used to refer to any source of power for a EWD (e.g., a wearablecamera) that includes the internal power supply of the EWD and at leastone external source, such as an external source that resided inside anattachable auxiliary unit designed to connect with the EWD through aconnection means. In some embodiments, the physical connection providesno electrical connection points and any communication between theauxiliary unit and the EWD is wireless.

FIG. 20 illustrates an auxiliary unit 2200 attachable to and detachablefrom a wearable camera 2100. The camera 2100 may be implementedaccording to any of the examples of cameras described herein. The camera2100 includes an attachment member 2110 for removably attaching thecamera 2100 to a platform 2300, for example an eyewear frame or morespecifically a temple of an eyewear frame.

The camera 2100 and auxiliary unit 2200 are associated with anattachment system 2400. The attachment system 2400 may be configured toenable the camera 2100 and auxiliary unit 2200 to be physically joinedto one another to become a single unit attachable and detachable as aunit from the platform. For example, the camera 2100 may include a firstconnection portion 2120 and the auxiliary unit may include a secondconnection portion 2220 designed for cooperating fit with the firstconnection portion 2120. In some examples, the first connection portion2120 and the second connection portion 2220 may provide a wiredelectrical interface between the auxiliary unit 2200 and the camera2100. In some examples, the first connection portion 2120 and the secondconnection portion 2120 may provide a rigid connection between thecamera 2100 and auxiliary unit 2200 such that movement of the camera2100 causes movement of the auxiliary unit 2200 and vice versa. In otherembodiments, the connection may be flexible.

In some embodiments, the connection portion 2120 may include a femalestandard connector, such as a female USB connector. The secondconnection portion 2210 may include a male standard connector, such as amale USB connector. The term USB connector is meant to include any typeof USB connector including micro USB connectors. In some embodiments,the connection portions 2120 and 2220 may include flexible connectors.In some embodiments, the camera and auxiliary unit may connectmechanically, magnetically, or otherwise to one another without thephysical connection providing electrical contact points.

The auxiliary unit 2200 may be implemented according to any of theexamples herein. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit 2200 mayinclude an attachment member 2210 which is configured to removablyattach the auxiliary unit 2200 to the platform 2300. In someembodiments, the auxiliary unit 2200 may not include the attachmentmember 2210 but may instead be considered to be attached to the platform2300 (e.g., eyewear temple) via a rigid link between the auxiliary unit2200 and camera 2100 and via the camera's connection to the platform2300. In some embodiments, the camera 2100 and/or the auxiliary unit2200 may be attachable to the common platform 2300 via magnetic means.In some examples, the platform 2300 may be a track that includes aferromagnetic material (e.g., a magnet, a magnetic metal material,etc.), an eyewear temple including a ferromagnetic material, of auniversal connector that is attachable and detachable to an eyeweartemple wherein the universal connector includes a ferromagneticmaterial.

As described, the attachment member 2110, and optionally attachmentmember 2220, may include one or more magnets which can attract to ametallic component of the common platform 2300 (e.g., a metallicsurface, a metallic insert, or any implementation of a metallic track).In some embodiments, the arrangement may be reversed in that theattachment members 2110 and 2220 may include a magnetic metallicmaterial which is attractable by a magnetic material of the commonplatform 2300. In other embodiments, the attachment mechanisms asbetween the attachment member 2110, and optionally attachment member2220, and the platform 2300 maybe purely mechanical in nature, such as asimple post into a slot arrangement. In still other embodiments, thecommon platform 2300, resides inside one or both temples of an eyewearframe.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary unit 2100 may include a housing, acamera connector (e.g., a USB connector) and one or more electroniccomponents at least partially enclosed within the housing. The cameraconnector may include at least two electrical contacts. The one or moreelectronic components may include a power source, optionally a memorydevice, and an interface for communicatively coupling the auxiliary unitto the camera. The one or more electronic components may be operativelyconnected to the at least two electrical contacts for communicativelycoupling the auxiliary unit to the camera. In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit 2100 may include an attachment member connected to orintegral with the housing, wherein the attachment member is configuredas an extension of the camera attachment member to enable the wearablecamera and the auxiliary unit to be connected together to a commonplatform.

FIGS. 21A-D show auxiliary units 2200-a through 2200-d according tofurther examples of the present disclosure. Each of the illustratedauxiliary units 2200-a through 2200-d are shown configured with a USBplug 2222 a-d; however it will be understood that an interface otherthan a USB interface may be used in other embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit may include only a battery forextending the useful life of the camera. In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit may include multiple batteries. In embodiment, thebattery connection between the wearable camera and the auxiliary unitmay be via a parallel connection, such that the voltage of the combinedbatteries is the same. In some embodiments, the battery or batteries inthe auxiliary unit may be a near exact match to the internal battery ofthe wearable camera to optimize the combined performance of thecomposite power source. A battery of the auxiliary unit may berechargeable and the auxiliary unit may include battery charging circuitconnected to an external communication interface (e.g., another USBinterface, such as a female USB connector) for coupling the auxiliaryunit to an external power source. For example, as shown in FIG. 21A, theauxiliary unit 2200-a includes only a battery 2230-a (or multiplebatteries) and any accompanying circuitry, such as for recharging thebattery 2230-a including another connector 2260-a for plugging into anexternal charger. As such the auxiliary unit 2200-a can function as abattery extension or wearable battery pack for the wearable camera 2100.

In other embodiments, the auxiliary unit may also include electronicfunctions, such as a wireless module for wireless communication.Wireless communication devices may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or anyother wireless technologies currently known or later developed. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 21B-D, the auxiliary units 2200-b through2200-d include not only a battery (as a battery extension to the cameraonboard power source) but also a wireless communication module (e.g.,2240-a and 2240-b, which may be Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other type). In someembodiments, the attachable accessory may also include electronicstorage or Flash Memory. In most, but not all, embodiments, theauxiliary unit will include its own power source that is share with thewearable camera and used to power additional functionality present inthe auxiliary unit. In other embodiments, the battery inside thewearable camera may provide the power to operate the electronics insidethe auxiliary unit.

In embodiments where the electronic interface between the camera andauxiliary unit is a USB connection, the wearable camera may includecharging and power management electronics that will require the externalpower source to act like a standard 5V USB charging port. In this case,the attachable accessory may include a power boast circuit asillustrated in FIGS. 21A-21D, which may be configured to drive the powercharging circuit inside the wearable camera. Also in such embodiments,the battery inside the auxiliary unit may include its own power chargingcircuit as well as a USB female connector to be charge from an outsidecharging source, such as, a wall adaptor with 5V DC or other 5V USBsource, such as a PC, notebook, or laptop computer. In still otherembodiments, the auxiliary unit may include additional electronicfunctions that enhance the performance of the wearable camera.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 21B, the auxiliary unit mayinclude features like a buzzer or vibrator 2250 that could providefeedback, such as an alert or status indication, to user of the wearablecamera that would normally be provided by the internal audio sourceinside the camera. In this manner the alert function that may otherwisebe provided by the camera may be offloaded to the auxiliary unit. Asdescribed herein, various functions that may otherwise be typicallyprovided by the camera, such as wireless communication means for exampleBluetooth or Wi-Fi, could be offloaded to the auxiliary unit thusreducing the side of the camera and the auxiliary unit being detachablewhen not in use.

As further shown in FIG. 21D, the auxiliary unit 2200-d may includeadditional functionality such as a voice communication module 2270. Thevoice communication module may be configured to provide functionalitysimilar to, for example, those found in Apple's SIRI, Amazon's Alexa,Microsoft Kinect or other voice recognition technologies. The voicecommunication module may enable the wearer of the camera and theauxiliary unit to control the camera and get status information from thecamera using voice commands or queries. In some embodiments, theauxiliary unit (e.g., auxiliary unit 2200-d) may include a microphoneand a speaker which may be operatively associated with the voicecommunication module, if present.

Further inventive examples are described in the following enumeratedparagraphs.

A1. A camera system comprising: a wearable camera comprising a memoryconfigured to store photos or video captured with the wearable cameraand comprising a camera controller and an onboard battery having onboardpower capacity; and an auxiliary unit comprising: an auxiliary batteryhaving auxiliary power capacity greater than the onboard power capacity;a camera interface configured to communicatively couple the auxiliaryunit to the camera to recharge the onboard battery or to receive datafrom the camera; and an external communication interface configured forcoupling the auxiliary unit to an external power source or a computingdevice for transferring data received from the camera to the computingdevice.

A2. The camera system of paragraph A1, wherein the camera interfacecomprises a wired interface.

A3. The camera system of paragraph A2, wherein the wired interfacecomprises a male USB connector.

A4. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A3, wherein the auxiliary unit isimplemented as a camera case having a configuration in which the cameracase at least partially encloses the camera when the camera is connectedto the camera interface.

A5. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A4, wherein the camera casefurther comprises a display.

A6. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A5, wherein the camera casefurther comprises one or more switches configured to activate one of aplurality of external communication components.

A7. The camera system of paragraph A6, wherein the one or more switchesincludes at least one actuator configured to at least partially exposeor conceal a wired connector plug.

A8. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A7, wherein the camera interfacecomprises a wireless interface.

A9. The camera system of paragraph A8, wherein the wireless interface isconfigured to wirelessly charge the onboard battery.

A10. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A9, wherein the camera interfacecomprises a wired interface configured for receiving data from thecamera and further comprises a wireless interface configured towirelessly charge the onboard battery.

A11. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A10, wherein the externalcommunication interface comprises a wired communication interface.

A12. The camera system of paragraphs A11, wherein the wiredcommunication interface includes at least one male connector.

A13. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A12, wherein the camerainterface includes one of a male USB connector or a female USB connectorand wherein the external communication interface includes a maleLIGHTNING connector, a male USB connector, or both.

A14. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A13, wherein the externalcommunication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.

A15. The camera system of paragraph A14, wherein the externalcommunication interface comprises a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, orboth.

A16. The camera system of paragraph A14, wherein the externalcommunication interface comprises a dual band chip which includes bothWi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies.

A17. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A16, wherein the auxiliary unitincludes a configuration in which the auxiliary unit at least partiallyencloses the camera when the camera is coupled thereto.

A18. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A17, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises a user interface.

A19. The camera system of paragraphs A18, wherein user interfaceincludes a display.

A20. The camera system of paragraphs A19, wherein said display isconfigured to be used as a viewfinder to adjust the positioning of thecamera while capturing an image.

A21. The camera system of paragraph A18-A20, wherein user interfaceincludes one or more functional indicators, one or more user controls,or a combination thereof.

A22. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A21, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises volatile memory.

A23. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A21, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises non-volatile memory.

A24. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A21, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises volatile and non-volatile memory.

A25. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A24, wherein the auxiliary unithas an overall length of 120 mm or less and an overall width of 90 mm orless.

A26. The camera system of paragraphs A25, wherein the overall length is70 mm or less and the overall width is 45 mm or less.

A27. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A27, wherein the externalinterface comprises a iOS communication module configured to enabledirect wired communication between the auxiliary unit and a iOS mobilecomputing device.

A28. The camera system of paragraph A1, wherein the camera interface iswired and the external interface is wireless, the camera interface iswireless and external interface is wired, the camera interface and theexternal interface are both wired interfaces, or the camera interfaceand the external interface are both wireless.

A29. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A28, wherein the auxiliary unitis a mobile auxiliary unit.

A30. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A29, wherein the computingdevice is a mobile computing device.

A30. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A29, wherein the computingdevice is a cloud server.

A31. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A30, wherein the auxiliary unitcomprises an indicator configured to provide an indication of status ofthe camera.

A32. The camera system of paragraphs A1-A31, wherein the indicator isconfigured to provide the indication of status of the camera only whenthe camera is docked to the auxiliary unit.

C1. An auxiliary unit attachable to and detachable from a wearablecamera which includes a camera attachment member for removably attachingthe camera to eyewear, the auxiliary unit comprising: a housing; acamera connector provided at an opening in the housing and comprising atleast two electrical contacts; one or more electronic components atleast partially enclosed within the housing, wherein the one or moreelectronic components are connected to the at least two electricalcontacts; and an attachment member connected to or integral with thehousing, wherein the attachment member is configured as an extension ofthe camera attachment member to enable the wearable camera and theauxiliary unit to be connected together to a common platform.

C2. The auxiliary unit of paragraph C1, wherein the auxiliary unit andcamera are connectable together to an eyewear temple.

C3. The auxiliary unit of paragraph C1 or C2, wherein the attachmentmember is a rigid member.

C4. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C3, wherein the one or moreelectronic components comprises a camera communication interface, anexternal communication interface, a user interface, an auxiliary batteryhaving auxiliary power capacity greater than onboard power capacity ofthe wearable camera, an auxiliary memory, or a combination thereof.

C5. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C4, wherein the one or moreelectronic components include a battery.

C6. The auxiliary unit of paragraph C5, wherein the battery is arechargeable battery.

C7. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C6, wherein the one or moreelectronic components include wireless communication component.

C8. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C7, wherein the wirelesscommunication component comprises a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, or acombination of the two.

C9. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C8, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises a vibrator.

C10. The auxiliary unit of paragraphs C1-C9, wherein the auxiliary unitfurther comprises a voice communication module.

C11. The auxiliary unit of paragraph C10, wherein voice communicationmodule comprises a microphone and a processor configured to performvoice recognition and control an operation of the auxiliary unitresponsive to a voice command.

C12. The auxiliary unit of paragraph C10 or C11, wherein the voicecommunication module further comprises a speaker.

It will be understood that any of the auxiliary units described hereinmay be implemented as a case which is configured to at least partiallyenclose a wearable electronic device such as a wearable camera.

The above detailed description of examples is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the method and system for wireless power transferto the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, andexamples for, the method and systems for wireless power transfer aredescribed above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible within the scope of the system, as thoseskilled in the art will recognize. For example, while processes orblocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments mayperform routines having operations, or employ systems having blocks, ina different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved,added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. While processes or blocksare at times shown as being performed in series, these processes orblocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed atdifferent times. It will be further appreciated that one or morecomponents of base units, electronic devices, or systems in accordancewith specific examples may be used in combination with any of thecomponents of base units, electronic devices, or systems of any of theexamples described herein.

1. A case for a wearable camera having onboard processing, memory, andpower source, the case comprising: a case body comprising: a camerainterface configured to communicatively connect the case to the wearablecamera, an external communication interface configured tocommunicatively couple the case to a computing device; a case memorycommunicatively coupled to the camera interface and configured to storedata received from the camera; and a case battery comprising arechargeable power source configured to provide power to the camera whenthe camera is communicatively coupled to the case; and wherein the casebody has a configuration in which the case body at least partiallyencloses the camera.
 2. The case of claim 1, wherein the case comprisesgreater memory capacity than a capacity of the onboard memory of thecamera.
 3. The case of claim 1, wherein the case comprises greaterenergy capacity than a capacity of the onboard power source of thecamera.
 4. The case of claim 1, wherein the storage capacity of the casememory does not exceed 1 gigabyte.
 5. The case of claim 1, wherein thecase battery has an energy capacity of 5 watt hours or less.
 6. The caseof claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmission coil forwirelessly charging the case battery.
 7. The case of claim 6, whereinthe case comprises firmware that is configured to activate the powertransmission coil when the camera is received in the case.
 8. The caseof claim 7, wherein the case is configured to activate the powertransmission coil when the camera is mechanically attached to the case.9. The case of claim 1, wherein the case body has a configuration inwhich the case body fully encloses the camera.
 10. The case of claim 1,wherein the case is configured to activate a wireless charging functionwhen the camera is received in the case.
 11. The case of claim 1,wherein the case body has an overall length of 120 mm or less and anoverall width of 90 mm or less.
 12. The case of claim 11, wherein theoverall length is 70 mm or less and the overall width is 45 mm or less.13. The case of claim 1, wherein the external communication interfacecomprises at least one male connector.
 14. The case of claim 13, whereinthe case body includes an actuator configured to at least partiallyexpose or conceal at least one of the male connectors associated withthe external communication interface.
 15. The case of claim 13, whereinthe actuator comprises a button or a lever configured to extend andretract a LIGHTNING connector or a USB connector, to extend a LIGHTNINGconnector while retracting a USB connector, or to extend a USB connectorwhile retracting a LIGHTNING connector.
 16. The case of claim 1, whereinthe case comprises internal electronics configured to communicativelycouple to case to an APPLE device, an ANDROID device, or both.
 17. Thecase of claim 16, wherein the external communication interface comprisesa male LIGHTNING connector, a male USB connector, or both.
 18. The caseof claim 1, wherein the camera interface comprises a male USB connector.19. The case of claim 1, wherein the camera interface comprises a wiredinterface configured for data transfer, the case further comprising awireless charging interface configured to wirelessly charge the onboardpower when the camera is operatively arranged in relation to thewireless charging interface.
 20. The case of claim 1 wherein the camerainterface comprises a dual band transmitter/receiver, and wherein atleast one of the bands of the dual band transmitter/receiver isconfigured to transmit power wirelessly to the camera when the camera isoperatively arranged therewith. 21-34. (canceled)